ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The St. Louis Cardinals have made the off-season clear on their goals: to acquire pitching. So far they had achieved it, signing the likes of Sonny Gray, Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson on the free agency front, and acquiring Ryan Fernandez and Nick Robertson either through trade or the Rule 5 Draft.
Now, they are reportedly close to adding another pitcher. According to the New York Post and MLB Network Insider Joel Sherman, the Cardinals are close to a deal to trade outfielder Richie Palacios to the Tampa Bays for reliever Andrew Kittredge.
Cardinals President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak has previously hinted that Cardinals next moves this off-season was to make a move through the trade market and add a reliever. He accomplished both in one move.
Kittredge has been a steady presence during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays, amassing a 2.26 ERA in the last four seasons, including making the All-Star Game in 2021. However, he has faced injury troubles throughout that stretch, only making 96 appearances over the last four seasons, including only 31 the previous two seasons. Kittredge is heading into the final year of arbitration and is estimated to make only $2 million, making the trade a relatively low risk move.
Palacios was acquired by the Cardinals in July 2023 in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians for cash considerations. He was called up by the Cardinals on Aug. 17. Palacios made an impression during his short 32-game stint in St. Louis, hitting a solid .258/.307/.516 slash line, collecting 24 hits and raking six home runs in his short stint in St. Louis.
Palacios was unlikely to be able to get playing time in the majors for the Cardinals next year, with the Cardinals current outfield setup consiting of Jordan Walker, Dylan Carlson, Tommy Edman and Lars Nootbaar, with Alec Burleson as a depth option. Palacios was an expendable piece, but as Cardinals fans should know, they thought that with Adolis Garcia and Randy Arozarena, too.
